Cost of Living

[deviray50]

I am curious regarding the cost of living in Jakarta. Given that I own my house, have a car, how much do you thionk you would need on a monthly basis to live comfortably. I do not go out every night (not allowed:tongue2:) but like to go out maybe once a week or so for a drink and out with she who must be obeyed for a meal etc. We have one son, 2.5 years.
So, what do you think guys, how much to live there?

Thanks,

Ray

[waarmstrong]

I am curious regarding the cost of living in Jakarta. Given that I own my house, have a car, how much do you thionk you would need on a monthly basis to live comfortably. I do not go out every night (not allowed:tongue2:) but like to go out maybe once a week or so for a drink and out with she who must be obeyed for a meal etc. We have one son, 2.5 years.
So, what do you think guys, how much to live there?

Thanks,

Ray

It depends, of course, Deviray, but for a generic comparison between Ireland and Indonesia try this website: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries.jsp. It has a country comparison page that is complete enough to give you a pretty good idea of the differences. By applying the chart to your spending habits, I think you can personalize the comparison, as well.

[deviray50]

Thanks for that, it was very informative. I was also looking for peoples experiences as to their costs living here.

Thanks again,

Ray

[wm]

People's personal experiences covers such a wide range of personal lifestyles .. that it really is hard to come up with one number that truly represents the cost of living. The simple fact is .. the more you live a humble Indonesian lifestyle (simple home, no overseas travel, local food, shopping at markets, etc) the cheaper your cost of living will be!

wm

[kingwilly]

Thanks for that, it was very informative. I was also looking for peoples experiences as to their costs living here.

Thanks again,

Ray

SO in other words, you want people to crassly boast about how much they do or do not make or spend each month living here?

If you asked the same question at a pub in dublin, no person would answer you, why should you expect the same here ?

no class.

[beebop]

Every person has their own personal needs but if you already have a place to stay and have the burden of rent aside, and have a car already paid for, you should be able to get by fairly easily on rp10 - 15 million per month unless you have lots of monthly expenses like satelite tv, internet, electric bills and those sorts of payments that can add up. Not to mention those continuous once off expenses that have been continuously messing up my budgeting. I am able to survive on rp5 million a month together with my wife but our standard of life is nowhere near that of the average expat but rather nearer to the average indonesian you see on the streets. Its all about your own personal lifestyle what your desires are or whatever you can afford.

[deviray50]

:clap2:Ahh, KW, on your little throne you sit, waffling on and so full of sh*t. You do make me laugh:lol::lol:

Take care buddy

Ray:peace:

[deviray50]

Thanks Beebop, that was very helpfull. I was looking for a ball park figure so I could plan ahead with moving there. I'm really looking forward to it. Its going to make a big change from living here in Ireland. Thanks and take care,

See ya,

Ray

[Mas Fred]

Thanks Beebop, that was very helpfull. I was looking for a ball park figure so I could plan ahead with moving there. I'm really looking forward to it. Its going to make a big change from living here in Ireland. Thanks and take care,

See ya,

Ray

There is no number as such but there is a range.

The poor live on 400,000 or less but live like shit.
A couple of million is survivable but, in a big city, not very good.
Loads of expat teachers manage on 8 million.
Take it from there but it's all down to your lifestyle.
The expensive things are:
Rent
western food
Booze/clubs/related activities.
Add a bit of getting ripped off as a white guy to make things cost more than they should.

It's pretty simple really. Living in some expensive apartment, going out to posh restaurants and a bar after will see of large chunks of cash.

[rainman]

Hm...

Indovision x 2 Rp 400k
Maid Rp 650k
Electricity Rp 1.000k
Water and etc Rp 300k
Internet Rp 200k
Driver Rp 2,200k
Car cost Installment Rp 3,000k
Car others Rp 1,500k
Kids school fee x 2 Rp 1,600k
Food (150 x 30) Rp 4,500

Drinking 2 x/wk Rp 5,000

personal expensese??????

So my friend... that is my BASIS cost.

Cheers

[butrfly]

i have a little boy (7 months) and found that USD 1000 was ok to fit in the nanny, the maid, food for all three of us, milk and other stuff for the baby, plus a few meals outside (delivered at home, as it was).

add about USD 250 for the utility bills and we were all set for what we needed for the month.

this was basic. nothing fancy. definitely comfortable, though.

[deviray50]

Thanks Guys, I was just looking at basic, not over the top living. I'm a family man, not into going out all the time. Just the occasional meal etc. You have been a great help, thanks guys,

Ray:peace:

[Mas Fred]

Electricity Rp 1.000k
Water and etc Rp 300k

That is the bit I find hardest to understand.
My electricity is 60,000 or less and 20,000 for the water.

How come it's so bloody expensive for you?

[tumbleweeds]

How does Bali compare with Jakarta on cost of living? That website mentioned in post 1 was great, but it didn't have a thing about Bali. I'm assuming that it would be slightly less expensive?

Thanks! :-)

[kingwilly]

i imagine it would be. but again depends. food, rent, transport, entertainment. all can be as expensive as Jakarta....

[kingwilly]

That is the bit I find hardest to understand.
My electricity is 60,000 or less and 20,000 for the water.

How come it's so bloody expensive for you?

depends on the billing.

my electricity is usually about 750,000 - and I do not use AC during the days, only nights.

my water, a few hundred, but not all that high.

[Mas Fred]

depends on the billing.

my electricity is usually about 750,000 - and I do not use AC during the days, only nights.

my water, a few hundred, but not all that high.

The exclamation,"SHITE ME!" comes to mind.
What do you do with the water, drink it or something?
I know AC is expensive to run but 700,000 more than me. Maybe you live in a big house and run a pile of units.

[kingwilly]

The exclamation,"SHITE ME!" comes to mind.
What do you do with the water, drink it or something?
I know AC is expensive to run but 700,000 more than me. Maybe you live in a big house and run a pile of units.

I was thinking much the same, in reverse, about your bills, do you live in a wooden shack, wash in the stream, use candles at night and charge your mobile phone at the communal electric plug at the warang ?

medium sized house, most often only one bedroom AC a night is on. some evenings turn on the living room AC also.

I heard that some houses are wired differently, different amperage or summtink? (my electric knowledge is not particularly extensive)

[Mas Fred]

Small 2 bed house.
No AC but several fans on 24 hours so that will bump up the bill a little.
Sulis has the TV on all day and half the night.
All I use is my HP (2 of them) and this netbook.
All the lamps are low energy.
other than that, a low power fridge.

2 people and a baby full time but my wife;s kid sister here at the moment.
I shower with scoop 4 or 5 times a day. Sulis usually 3.
No car to wash but we have an automatic washing machine that is used every couple of nights.

[paman]

Fred,

Are you sure you aren't using an illegal electricity connection? Because I may or may not have had one in the past, and that may or may not have been my average electricity bill...

[waarmstrong]

I suspect that the neighbors are tapping into KW's PLN line. I run the AC more, but my bill is less.

BTW, when we remodeled, the contractor found that the previous owner had by-passed the meter, in part. Its legal now.

[rainman]

That is the bit I find hardest to understand.
My electricity is 60,000 or less and 20,000 for the water.

How come it's so bloody expensive for you?


U know why PLN is losing money??? Because many house owner Steal Electricity.....

I used to pay Rp 100k for my last house with 2 A/C on 24 hours a day.

As for water. u are not using the piped water but underground water. That is why Jakarta is sinking,,,,,lolz

Cheers

[rainman]

Legal? U must be kidding.

know this practice is quite normal for old houses but impossible now.

[Mas Fred]

U know why PLN is losing money??? Because many house owner Steal Electricity.....

I used to pay Rp 100k for my last house with 2 A/C on 24 hours a day.

As for water. u are not using the piped water but underground water. That is why Jakarta is sinking,,,,,lolz

Cheers

My last house had no electricity until I put it in.
I checked the installation and know it was legal.
This place is only a few years old but the meter and cables to it are visible and do not appear to have been tampered with.

I am neither in Jakarta nor using underground supplies.

[waarmstrong]

Legal? U must be kidding.

know this practice is quite normal for old houses but impossible now.

Sorry, Rainman, By "legal now" I meant to say that my contractor removed the illegal by-pass when installing an upgrade and new meter. The connection to the house is now a legal connection.

[kingwilly]

I suspect that the neighbors are tapping into KW's PLN line. I run the AC more, but my bill is less.

BTW, when we remodeled, the contractor found that the previous owner had by-passed the meter, in part. Its legal now.


hmmmm, perhaps I should look into this further...

[Mas Fred]

hmmmm, perhaps I should look into this further...

Easy enough. Wait until the neighbours are in and turn off everything in the house.
If the meter is still running, scream rape.